Our mission is to maintain and provide a high level of skill, medical knowledge, availability and comprehensive range of medical and community services in a friendly, respectful, informative and professional manner.
01/04/2021 – Flu clinics are now available for our over 65 years patients.
To book online please select Flu Clinic A or Flu Clinic B.
These clinics will be run on a Saturday and Sunday afternoon.
For couples please book consecutive times.
**Please note: If you are also having COVID-19 vaccinations you will need to leave a 14 day break between appointments.
Instructions on how to book your flu vaccination online
COVID-19 VACCINATIONS
9/04/2021
What is this side effect that everyone is talking about associated with the AstraZeneca vaccine?
There is evidence of a likely link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and an extremely rare blood clotting syndrome (thrombosis with thrombocytopenia).
The recommendation from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) is that use of Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer) is preferred over AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in adults under 50 years old who have not already had a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Is the AstraZeneca vaccine safe?
Yes. The individual benefit-to-risk balance of vaccination with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine varies with age. This balance is based on factors including the increased risk of complications from COVID-19 with increasing age and the potential lower risk of this very rare, but serious, adverse event with increasing age. ATAGI has recommended the AstraZeneca vaccine remains safe to be given to people aged 50 years and over.
I have had my first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, what do I do now?
If you have had your first vaccine dose without this side effect or other serious adverse effects, you should receive your second dose as planned.
What if I am worried about side effects?
If you have recently had your first vaccine dose and are experiencing any side effects that you are worried about, please book an appointment with your doctor.
I’m booked in for my first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, what do I do?
If you are an adult aged under 50 years, you should only receive a first dose of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine where the benefit of receiving the vaccine clearly outweighs the risk in your individual circumstance. You may wish to discuss your individual benefit-to-risk balance with your doctor.
Generally, if you have not already received a first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, then the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is preferred in adults aged under 50 years.
Information about how to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine will be available on the Department of Health website shortly.
If you would like to talk about this with your doctor, please book an appointment.
If you are 50 years of age or older, you can still receive your AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
19/03/2021
The vaccines have arrived and clinics will begin next week.
If you are eligible for the vaccine under the 1b phase (see below for eligibility checker), please go to the top of this page and click on ‘Make a booking’ to book an appointment.
Please avoid ringing the surgery as you will need to book online to book both appointments and complete a consent form prior to your appointment.
Please note: Our practice will be provided with a limited number of vaccines per week (80 doses in the first week and 100 doses in the second week) so patience will be the key to this rollout.
But remember the Government has committed enough vaccines for everyone.
‘This is a marathon, not a sprint’
To see when you will become eligible to have the COVID-19 vaccination, please visit COVID-19 vaccine national roll-out strategy.
If you have any questions about the COVID-19 vaccine please visit COVID-19 vaccine information.
If you have any questions about what happens after you have been vaccinated, please visit What happens after you’ve been vaccinated.
To check your eligibility: Eligibility Checker
To prepare for COVID-19 vaccination: Preparing for COVID-19 vaccine
What we do know:
Glen Forrest Medical Centre will be involved in the AstraZeneca vaccinating which was approved by Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) on 16 February 2021 either in Phase 1b or Phase 2a.
Appointments to be vaccinated will be made through an online booking system. We will notify patients as soon as this is available.
Patients will require two doses, twelve weeks apart. The 2nd dose will be quarantined at our Surgery and we will send a recall out via sms to remind you. This is why it is important to ensure you get your second dose at the same Surgery.
We have been informed by the Health Department that the flu vaccine will be available in May. You can have the flu vaccination two weeks apart from the COVID-19 vaccination. Eg. 1st dose of COVID-19 vaccination wait two weeks have flu vaccination or have flu vaccination and wait two weeks for your COVID-19 vaccination.
To stay up-to-date, please visit our website www.gfmc.com.au or follow us on Facebook to find out the latest news regarding the COVID-19 vaccination clinics.
Dr Kris Scully
Dr Scully started at the Glen Forrest Medical Centre on Tuesday 2nd of February 2021.
Information about the Coronavirus (COVID-19): Health Direct: Coronavirus
Department of Health: Daily Update
AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM GLEN FORREST MEDICAL CENTRE
We remain open and are ready and willing to continue caring for our patients and our community.
You may be wondering what changes we have implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
1. Our reception staff are very carefully triaging ALL patient bookings and we thank you, our patients, for your patience! This is one of the most important things we are doing, in order to keep the Medical Centre as clean and virus-free as possible.
As many of you will already be aware, anyone who fulfils the criteria for testing for COVID-19, is directed to a testing facility currently at our major Hospitals.
For others who have upper respiratory symptoms – sore throat, cough, fever, shortness of breath etc, and who have no history for high risk for COVID-19, are being asked to remain in their car, and one of our doctors will come out to meet you and assess you.
2. We have increased our infection control procedures and are endeavouring to ensure social distancing advice and disinfectant of hard surfaces and hands is practised with all interaction within the medical centre. We have made changes in our waiting room by spacing chairs and also at our reception desk to enact social distancing.
3. The Government have made available telephone consultations for everybody, commencing March 30, which are currently bulk-billed. Please be aware that patients who do not have a concession card may in the future be charged a private fee and be able to claim a rebate from Medicare. Please be aware that if you are ill, this is not likely something that can be assessed over the phone as we will still need to examine you to provide best care for you. Thus it is likely that you will be advised to present for a consultation.
4. Our flu immunisation clinics are commencing 21st April as always and will run 3 days a week for several weeks until demand drops.
5. Commencing towards the end April, we are planning to commence consultations under a tent/marquis, in our back carpark for those who:
a) Do not fulfil criteria for COVID-19 testing and thus cannot attend the ED for testing;
b) Present with sore throat, fever, cough etc.
As the situation is changing constantly, we will update you on a regular basis regarding proposed plans.
We encourage you to refer to our Website which will regularly update you with the current recommendations by the Health Department. If you fulfil the criteria for COVID-19 testing as per their guidelines, please do as advised and present to the COVID-19 clinics, please do NOT ignore recommendations and present to the Medical Centre. If you are advised to isolate, then please do so.
These recommendations have been put in place to ensure containment of the COVID-19 virus and avoid spread.
What you do matters to others, particularly at this time.
If you love your Nan/Nonna/Grandma/Pop/Nonno/Grandad, then do it for them!
